Blades deal Flodell, acquire Kubic to clear up overage spots

Goalie Logan Flodell was traded by the Saskatoon Blades to the Swift Current Broncos on Sept. 20, 2017. (Steve Hiscock/Saskatoon Blades)

The Saskatoon Blades are changing up their goaltending for the upcoming WHL season.

The team dealt away starting netminder Logan Flodell just two days before its home opener.

Flodell was traded to the Swift Current Broncos Wednesday morning in exchange for a 2019 fifth-round draft pick and a 2020 second-round pick.

The Blades then turned around and acquired struggling Vancouver Giants starting goaltender Ryan Kubic for a 2019 second-round selection.

Blades GM Colin Priestner addressed the trade in a press release, stating that dealing Flodell, an overage player, allows the team to keep fellow 20-year-olds Cameron Hebig and Braylon Shmyr.

“Losing him is difficult,” Priestner said of Flodell.

“However, we simply felt the combination of Hebig and Shmyr playing together as 20’s would give us a first line on par with any other in the league and would insulate our young star players from having to play against top lines and top d-men every night.”

Captain Evan Fiala fills the third overage roster spot for the Blades.

Kubic, 19, joins the team after posting a 3.67 GAA and .895 save percentage with the second-to-last Giants in 2016-17.

Priestner touted the St. Andrews, Man. native’s three consecutive shutouts in 2015, and his play with Team Canada at the U17 World Championships.

“We feel very confident with him in our net for the next two seasons,” he said.

Kubic is expected to practice with the team Wednesday and start in the home opener Friday for the Blades.

Flodell could also be between the pipes for the Broncos when the puck drops at 7 p.m.